Editorial: Turf wars undercut Q-C airport

A counterproductive turf war is the exact opposite of what's best for Quad-City International Airport's long-term viability. But, true to form, petty squabbling among the Rock Island County Board replaced a legitimate push to reinforce the airport's finances in Springfield.

Things went south when Rock Island County Board recently re-appointed Jim Bohnsack as chairman of the airport's oversight body, the county's Metropolitan Airport Authority. After voting for Bohnsack's nomination, County Board member and mud slinger-in-residence Drue Mielke decided to challenge Bohnsack's appointment because he lives outside of the eight townships within the airport's taxing authority.

Per usual, Mielke's gripe was just another legally baseless waste of time, concluded State's Attorney John McGehee. Mielke's position is further eroded by that fact that it would be moot if legislation in Illinois Statehouse, which would expand the airport's taxing district throughout the county, can garner the political backing it deserves. Mielke just so happens to be a key architect for the the county board's absurd slow-walk of a proposal to demolish the old courthouse, too.

Mielke's default position of sticking his finger in someone's eye is neither productive nor politically empowering. While common sense might seemingly require Bohnsack's residency within one of the eight towns taxed by the airport, the law makes no mention of such a thing.

But there's a significantly wider problem with the senseless attacks on Bohnsack's position on the airport's oversight panel. It's timing couldn't have been worse. And Mielke's back-biting only served to undermine a right-minded movement toward the regional funding model the struggling airport desperately requires for its long-term viability. It's here that Rock Island County should be screaming with a unified voice, instead of squabbling over scraps.

Quad-City International is one of three regional airports in Illinois pushing legislation to do just that. Along with authorities in Rockford and Bloomington, Quad-City International is pushing a bill in Springfield that would permit county-wide taxing authority. It would be a boon for the airport and solidify a key component of the region's transportation network.

While Mielke and his ilk are trapped in parochial navel gazing, proponents of the legislation are appropriately looking outward.

The struggles at Quad-City International is objective truth. Year after year, the number of passengers decline. Other regional airports — some touting free parking — are sapping would-be passengers. And a damning recent report on "60 Minutes" about allegedly shoddy maintenance of aircraft operated by Allegiant Air, one of Quad-City International's primary carriers, can be only damaging, too.

Now, the legislation kicking around Springfield is in its fetal stages. As with so many things in Illinois, simple neglect could kill otherwise reasonable — even necessary — legislation. And, should it pass, the bill could be catalyst for a far heavier lift aimed at forming a Quad-Cities port authority, effectively unifying the Iowa and Illinois sides in ownership of and responsibility for transportation infrastructure. But any port authority would be a years-long effort requiring a unified regional support and congressional approval.

The Illinois legislation, however, is but a small first step. Yet it's an important one, too, which should requires a unified regional voice from chanting in unison at Springfield.

Watch this discussion.Stop watching this discussion.

(5) comments

And there goes the Quad-City Times editorial board's three last collective marbles, rolling down River Drive. I am frightened for our community with Lee now monopolizing the market. Extraordinarily frightened.

What a load of Hogwash! Drue Mielke has a stellar reputation in Rock Island County for reaching across the aisle to find agreement, and for fighting for what is right in Illinois. Whoever the "author" of this editorial might be should be aware of the literal laws pertaining to who can be a member of the Airport authority and based on those laws, Mr Bohnsack does not qualify.

If Mr Bohnsack had been a meaningful constructive member and representatie in Rock Island county there might be merit to this story. Infortunately there is no substantive evidence to support that theory. In his years on the county board Mr Bohnsack's salient accomplishment was raising his own salary, and making inappropriate use of county vehicle for his own purposes... If the "unofficial" accounts are considered, he was also a frequent visitor to the county fuel storage tanks to top off his vehicles... Meaningful accomplishments beyond that are hard to find... Much of Rock Island County's current misery can be laid at Mr Bohnsack's feet... I am also amazed that the Times would allow so much space to print so much baseless drivel. .. It does make you wonder.

I stopped reading at “mud-slinger in residence “ as I prefer journalism to the name calling our society has fallen to. Can’t the Times lead the way please to good manners and good journalism? Thank you. Ted Ewing

The Quad City International Airport has long flown under the political cloud that creates a stench over progress of the Metro area. The financial issues facing the airport are the same issues facing airports nationwide and research by the critics would educate them. Reading the by-laws of the QCIA would also educate the naysayers of the validity of the Chairmans appointment . I find it ironic that the appointment issue raised by Mr. Meilke was a non issue prior ? With 2018 being an election year and County Borad seats being contested, plus Mr.Meilke seeking and winning the election of Chair of the Rock Island County Republican party has one wondering if this just another political grandstand . Now is the time to put petty politics aside and support legislation that would assure the Quad Cities of future growth in the Air service industry

No. if you lived in Rock Island County you would know that the county board is a nest of snakes that used to revolve around an old boy network. Republicans under Mielke have broken up this old boy network. Bohnsack is a remnant of that network. Legally he does not live in the area that funds the airport and this makes him inelligable to sit on the board (and draw the benefits of sitting on it.)

Welcome to the discussion.

Keep it Clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd,
racist or sexually-oriented language.PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.Don't Threaten. Threats of harming another
person will not be tolerated.Be Truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone
or anything.Be Nice. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism
that is degrading to another person.Be Proactive. Use the 'Report' link on
each comment to let us know of abusive posts.Share with Us. We'd love to hear eyewitness
accounts, the history behind an article.